Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

Cougsfan · Dec 1, 2016

DFB said:
So has anybody hade any experience with these types of HF storage bins. I see there are a few different ones. Even though the Milwaukee storage box is reduced in price now these are still 50% cheaper even without a coupon. I have like 2 dozen loose boxes of assorted sizes of different screws and nails from past projects but the boxes are all falling apart now.

8 Bin Portable Parts Storage Case

I have several of these exact items that I use to store nuts, bolts, lag screws, etc. They are OK. Don't plan on carting stuff around in the back of your truck in them, or carrying them around like a suitcase; They are too flimsy for that. But using them to store stuff and leaving them on a shelf when not in use, they are just fine.
One thing I did to improve them is to use a hot glue gun (Harbor Freight) to glue the dividers in place. Otherwise the dividers slide up and your parts get mixed up. It adds a bit of rigidity to them too.

California · Dec 1, 2016

DFB said:
So has anybody hade any experience with these types of HF storage bins. I see there are a few different ones. Even though the Milwaukee storage box is reduced in price now these are still 50% cheaper even without a coupon. I have like 2 dozen loose boxes of assorted sizes of different screws and nails from past projects but the boxes are all falling apart now.

8 Bin Portable Parts Storage Case

I keep my leftover wood screws in the lure sections of an old fishing tackle box, the type with fold-out trays and the two halves of the lid met at the top. Another useful yard-sale find.

sixdogs · Dec 1, 2016

DFB said:
So has anybody hade any experience with these types of HF storage bins. I see there are a few different ones. Even though the Milwaukee storage box is reduced in price now these are still 50% cheaper even without a coupon. I have like 2 dozen loose boxes of assorted sizes of different screws and nails from past projects but the boxes are all falling apart now.

8 Bin Portable Parts Storage Case

I have similar ones I got at HF. In theory, they are great and I use them for all sorts of small parts. Unfortunately, the latches broke on some of them and it sort of renders them useless. I also have some from Lowe's or Home Depot that look about the same and the latches have not broken. I would skip HF and buy somewhere else that will take them back if they broke. They cost about the same at both places.

hawkeye08 · Dec 1, 2016

Has anyone purchased and used the 1/2" air impact (1000lb/tq)? I would like a bit more power than I currently have, pretty light use, but want it to work when needed. Does it really have that much torque? I just got a flyer from HF that has it on sale for $129 (normally $149). I know this has come up previously, but I had not seen where someone had used it and liked it..

aczlan · Dec 1, 2016

hawkeye08 said:
Has anyone purchased and used the 1/2" air impact (1000lb/tq)? I would like a bit more power than I currently have, pretty light use, but want it to work when needed. Does it really have that much torque? I just got a flyer from HF that has it on sale for $129 (normally $149). I know this has come up previously, but I had not seen where someone had used it and liked it..

I have the Earthquake 1/2" impact (IIRC, it was on sale for $80ish?) and have been very happy with it.

Aaron Z

prichard · Dec 1, 2016

hawkeye08 said:
Has anyone purchased and used the 1/2" air impact (1000lb/tq)? I would like a bit more power than I currently have, pretty light use, but want it to work when needed. Does it really have that much torque? I just got a flyer from HF that has it on sale for $129 (normally $149). I know this has come up previously, but I had not seen where someone had used it and liked it..

There was quite a bit of discussion earlier in this thread about the Earthquake impact wrenches but I don't recall it that was the air operated or the electric ones.

There's a search thread option at the top of the page. If you search earthquake you should find them.

sixdogs · Dec 1, 2016

prichard said:
There was quite a bit of discussion earlier in this thread about the Earthquake impact wrenches but I don't recall it that was the air operated or the electric ones.

There's a search thread option at the top of the page. If you search earthquake you should find them.

Lots has been written about the regular 1/2" (air) Earthquake that sells in the $80 range. General thinking is that it is top notch, super duty and puts out the 700 ft lb of torque claimed. I have one and will vouch for it. I can take anything off and put anything back on. No exceptions so far and I try pretty hard.

California · Dec 1, 2016

aczlan said:
I have the Earthquake 1/2" impact (IIRC, it was on sale for $80ish?) and have been very happy with it.

Aaron Z

Ditto on the Earthquake.

Its intermediate setting torqued my tractor lugnuts to where 150 ft lbs on a beam-type torque wrench couldn't tighten them more, or loosen them.

I don't think I have an application that would use the highest setting, or could resist loosening with this thing.

And a comment: This Earthquake uses far less air than the the two cheaper HF models I shouldn't have bought earlier. Both used so much air that they caused the "2.5 hp"

HF compressor to kick in after a few lugnuts, and then they became weaker as they exhausted its tank. The Earthquake uses far less air, generally the compressor won't kick in at all. I think it would be usable with a little pancake compressor if that's all I had.

I had an HF electric impact wrench, it couldn't remove old automotive lugnuts. Sold it at a yard sale.

thepumpguysc · Dec 1, 2016

I don't know if its been mentioned but the DIESEL COMPRESSION TESTER, IS GOOD..
I have the "master" kit.
I recommend it for Case, J.Deere and Ford tractors. It comes w/ glow plug adaptors AND injector adaptors, along w/ a guage.
It makes SHORT WORK out of engine diagnosis..
Weather its helping out a friend or making a few bucks on the side.. its more than paid for itself..

lostcreekranch · Dec 1, 2016

California said:
Ditto on the Earthquake.

Its intermediate setting torqued my tractor lugnuts to where 150 ft lbs on a beam-type torque wrench couldn't tighten them more, or loosen them.

I don't think I have an application that would use the highest setting, or could resist loosening with this thing.

And a comment: This Earthquake uses far less air than the the two cheaper HF models I shouldn't have bought earlier. Both used so much air that they caused the "2.5 hp" HF compressor to kick in after a few lugnuts, and then they became weaker as they exhausted its tank. The Earthquake uses far less air, generally the compressor won't kick in at all. I think it would be usable with a little pancake compressor if that's all I had.

I had an HF electric impact wrench, it couldn't remove old automotive lugnuts. Sold it at a yard sale.